Cephalosporin derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents

ABSTRACT

Derivatives of cephalosporin esters are found to be potent elastase inhibitors and therefore are useful antiinflammatory agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

We have found that derivatives of cephalosporins are potent elastase inhibitors and therefore are useful anti-inflammatory agents.

Proteases from granulocytes and macrophages have been reported to be responsible for the chronic tissue destruction mechanisms associated with inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis and emphysema. Accordingly, specific and selective inhibitors of these proteases are candidates for potent anti-inflammatory agents useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions resulting in connective tissue destruction, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema, bronchial inflammation, osteoarthritis, spondylitis, lupus, psoriasis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The role of proteases from granulocytes, leukocytes or macrophages are related to a rapid series of events which occurs during the progression of an inflammatory condition:

(1) There is a rapid production of prostaglandins (PG) and related compounds synthesized from arachidonic acid. This PG synthesis has been shown to be inhibited by aspirin-related nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents including indomethacin and phenylbutazone. There is some evidence that protease inhibitors prevent PG production;

(2) There is also a change in vascular permeability which causes a leakage of fluid into the inflamed site and the resulting edema is generally used as a marker for measuring the degree of inflammation. This process has been found to be induced by the proteolytic or peptide cleaving activity of proteases, especially those contained in the granulocyte, and thereby can be inhibited by various synthetic protease inhibitors, for example, N-acyl benzisothiazolones and the respective 1,1-dioxides. Morris Zimmerman et al., J. Biol. Chem., 255, 9848 (1980); and

(3) There is an appearance and/or presence of lymphoid cells, especially macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). It has been known that a variety of proteases are released from the macrophages and PMN, further indicating that the proteases do play an important role in inflammation.

In general, proteases are an important family of enzymes within the peptide bond cleaving enzymes whose members are essential to a variety of normal biological activities, such as digestion, formation and dissolution of blood clots, the formation of active forms of hormones, the immune reaction to foreign cells and organisms, etc., and in pathological conditions such as the degradation of structural proteins at the articular cartilage/pannus junction in rheumatoid arthritis etc.

Elastase is one of the proteases. It is a rare enzyme in being able to hydrolyze the connective tissue component elastin, a property not contained by the bulk of the proteases present in mammals. It acts on a protein's nonterminal bonds which are adjacent to an aliphatic amino acid. Neutrophil elastase is of particular interest because it has the broadest spectrum of activity against natural connective tissue substrates. In particular, the elastase of the granulocyte is important because, as described above, granulocytes participate in acute inflammation and in acute exacerbation of chronic forms of inflammation which characterize many clinically important inflammatory diseases.

Proteases may be inactivated by inhibitors which block the active site of the enzyme by binding tightly thereto. Naturally occurring protease inhibitors form part of the control or defense mechanisms that are crucial to the well-being of an organism. Without these control mechanisms, the proteases would destroy any protein within reach. The naturally occurring enzyme inhibitors have been shown to have an appropriate configuration which allows it to bind tiqhtly to the enzyme. This configuration is part of the reason that inhibitors bind to the enzyme so tightly (see Stroud, "A Family of Protein-Cutting Proteins" Sci. Am. July 1974, pp. 74-88). For example, one of the natural inhibitors, α₁ -Antitrypsin, is a glycoprotein contained in human serum that has a wide inhibitory spectrum covering, among other enzymes, elastase both from the pancreas and the PMN. This inhibitor is hydrolyzed by the proteases to form a stable acyl enzyme in which the active site is no longer available. Marked reduction in serum α₁ -antitrypsin, either genetic or due to oxidants, has been associated with pulmonary emphysema which is a disease characterized by a progressive loss of lung elasticity and resulting respiratory difficulty. It has been reported that this loss of lung elasticity is caused by the progressive, uncontrolled proteolysis or destruction of the structure of lunq tissue by proteases such as elastase released from leukocytes. J. C. Powers, TIBS, 211 (1976).

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a progressive destruction of articular cartilage both on the free surface bordering the joint space and at the erosion front built up by synovial tissue toward the cartilage. This destruction process, in turn, is attributed to the protein-cutting enzyme elastase which is a neutral protease present in human granulocytes. This conclusion has been supported by the following observations:

(1) Recent histochemical investigations showed the accumulation of granulocytes at the cartilage/pannus junction in rheumatoid arthritis; and

(2) a recent investigation of mechanical behavior of cartilage in response to attack by purified elastase demonstrated the direct participation of granulocyte enzymes, especially elastase, in rheumatoid cartilage destruction. H. Menninger et al., in Biological Functions of Proteinases, H. Holzer and H. Tschesche, eds. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelbery, New York, 1949, pp. 196-206.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to discover new protease inhibitors, especially elastase inhibitors, useful for controlling tissue damage and various inflammatory conditions mediated by proteases particularly elastase.

Another object of the present invention is to provide pharmaceutical compositions for the administration of these protease inhibitors, i.e., the active cephalosporins.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a method of controlling inflammatory conditions by administering a sufficient amount of the cephalosporins in a mammalian species in need of such treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to esters of known cephalosporins as potent elastase inhibitors useful in the prevention, control and treatment of inflammatory conditions especially arthritis and emphysema.

Some of the cephalosporin free acids are known antibiotics which have been described in copending application Ser. No. 149,364, allowed Mar. 3, 1981. The structural formula of these cephalosporin esters are represented as follows (In U.S. application Ser. No. 149,364, B=H): ##STR1## wherein R' represents an acyl group; A and R₁ each represents an organic radical or group such as those radicals of the known cephalosporins and penicillins: and B represents an organic radical which is capable of replacing the active hydrogen of an organic acid. The formula (I), as represented above, includes all possible stereoisomers of the cephalosporins.

The acyl radical represented by R' can be a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, araliphatic or heterocyclylaliphatic carboxylic acid radical or a carbothioic acid radical such as the acyl radicals of the known cephalosporins and penicillins. These acyl radicals can be represented by the general formula ##STR2## where R₂ is a radical of the group defined below, m and n represent 0-4 and R₃ represents R" or ZR", which are also defined below.

One group of the acyl radicals, i.e., when m and n are both 0 and R₃ is R", can be represented by the general formula ##STR3## wherein R" is:

(a) straight or branched chain alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms especially methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, pentyl or hexyl;

(b) aryl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms especially phenyl, substituted phenyl or naphthalene;

(c) cycloalkyl having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms especially cyclopentyl, or cyclohexyl;

(d) alkenyl having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms especially C₂₋₆ alkenyl such as vinyl, allyl, or butenyl;

(e) cycloalkenyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms especially cyclopentenyl or cyclohexenyl;

(f) alkynyl having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms especially C₂₋₆ alkynyl for example, ethynyl, propynyl or hexynyl;

(g) aralkyl, alkaryl, aralkenyl, aralkynyl, alkenylaryl or alkynylaryl wherein alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl are as previously defined;

(h) monoheteroaryl, di- or polyheteroaryl, or fused heteroaryl containing from 1 to 3 of any one or more of the heteroatoms N, S or O in each heteroaryl ring thereof, for example, pyridyl, pyrryl, thienyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzothienyl, isobenzofuryl pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, carbozolyl, isoxazolyl and the like; or

(i) heteroarylalkyl such as 2-pyridylmethyl, 2-thienylmethyl and 3-isothiazolylethyl.

These groups (a)-(b) can be unsubstituted or can be substituted by radicals such as alkyl, alkoxy, halo such as fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo, cyano, carboxy, sulfoamino, carbamoyl, sulfonyl, azido, amino, substituted amino such as monoalkylamino and dialkylamino, haloalkyl, carboxyalkyl, carbamoylalkyl, N-substituted carbamoylalkyl, guanidino, N-substituted guanidino, guanidinoalkyl, and the like. Representative examples of such acyl groups that might be mentioned are those wherein R" is benzyl, p-hydroxybenzyl, 3- or 4-nitrobenzyl, p-aminobenzyl, o-aminobenzyl, m-aminobenzyl, o-sulfobenzyl, p-carboxymethylbenzyl, p-carbamoylmethylbenzyl, m-fluorobenzyl, m-bromobenzyl, p-chlorobenzyl, p-methoxybenzyl, p-aminomethylbenzyl, methyl, ethyl, cyanomethyl, 2-pentenyl, n-amyl, n-heptyl, phenethyl, β,β-diphenylethyl, methyldiphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl, 3,5-dimethyl-4-isoxazolyl, 3-butyl-5-methy14-isoxazolyl, 5-methyl-3-phenyl-4-isoxazolyl, 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl, 3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl, 5-methyl-3-(4-guanidinophenyl)-4-isoxazolyl, D,L- or D-4-amino-4-carboxybutyl, D-4-N-benzoylamino-4-carboxy-n-butyl, (3-pyridyl)methyl, 2-ethoxy-1-naphthyl, 3-carboxy-2-quinoxalinyl, 3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-(2-furyl)-4-isoxazolyl, 3-phenyl-4-isoxazolyl, 4 -guanidinomethylphenyl, 4-guanioinomethylbenzyl, 4-guanidinobenzyl, 4-guanidinophenyl, 2,6-dimethoxy-4-guanidinophenyl, 1-naphthylmethyl, 3-isothiazolylmethyl, 4-isothiazolylmethyl, 5-isothiazolylmethyl, 4-pyridylmethyl, 5-isoxazolylmethyl, 4-methoxy-5-isoxazolylmethyl, 4-methyl-5-isoxazolylmethyl, 1-imidazolylmethyl, 2-benzofuranylmethyl, 2-indolylmethyl, 2-phenylvinyl, 2-phenylethynyl, 2-(5-nitrofuranyl)vinyl, phenyl, o-methoxyphenyl, o-chlorophenyl, o-phenylphenyl, 1-(5-cyanotriazolyl)methyl, difluoromethyl, dichloromethyl, dibromoethyl, 1-(3-methylimidazolyl)-methyl, 2- or 3-(5-carboxymethylthienyl)methyl, 2- or 3-(4-carbamoylthienyl)methyl, 2- or 3-(5-methylthienyl)methyl, 2- or 3-(5-methoxythienyl)methyl, 2- or 3-(4-chlorothienyl)methyl, 2- or 3-(5-sulfothienyl)methyl, 2- or 3-(5-carboxythienyl)methyl, 3-(1,2,5-thiadiazolyl)methyl, 3-(4-methoxy-1,2,5-thiadiazolyl)methyl, 2-furylmethyl, 2-(5-nitrofuryl)methyl, 3-furylmethyl, 2-thienylmethyl, and tetrazolylmethyl. The term "sulfo" represents mercapto or thio, sulfinyl and sulfonyl.

The acyl group can also be a radical of the formula ##STR4## wherein n is 0-4, Z represents oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, and R" is defined as above. Representative members of the substituent

    --(CH.sub.2).sub.n ZR"

are allylthiomethyl, allylaminomethyl, phenylthiomethyl, butylmercaptomethyl, α-chlorocrotylmercaptomethyl, phenoxymethyl, phenylaminomethyl, phenoxyethyl, phenoxybutyl, phenoxybenzyl, diphenoxymethyl, dimethylmethoxymethyl, dimethylbutoxymethyl, dimethylphenoxymethyl, 4-guanidinophenoxymethyl, 4-pyridylthiomethyl, p-(carboxymethyl)phenoxymethyl, p-(carboxymethyl)phenylthiomethyl, 2-thiazolylthiomethyl, p-(sulfo)phenoxymethyl, p-(sulfo)ohenylthiomethyl, p-(carboxy)phenoxymethyl, p-(carboxy)phenylthiomethyl, p-(carboxymethyl)phenoxymethyl, p-carboxymethyl)phenylthiomethyl, 2-pyrimidinylthiomethyl, phenethylthiomethyl, 1-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl)oxomethyl, 6,8-bis(methylthio)octanoyl.

Furthermore, the acyl group can be a radical of the formula ##STR5## wherein R" is defined as above and R'" is a radical such as amino, hydroxy, azido, carbamoyl, guanidino, alkanoyloxy, halo, sulfamino, tetrazolyl, sulfo, carboxy, carbalkoxy, and the like. Representative members of the substituent ##STR6## are α-aminobenzyl, α-amino-2-thienyl, α-methylaminobenzyl, α-amino-γ-methylmercaptopropyl, α-amino-3 or 4-chlorobenzyl, α-amino-3 or 4-hydroxybenzyl, α-amino-2,4-dichlorobenzyl, α-amino-3,4-dichlorobenzyl, D(-)-α-hydroxybenzyl, α-carboxybenzyl, α-amino-3-thienyl, α-amino-2-thienyl, D(-)-α-amino-3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzyl, D(-)-α-amino-3-thienyl, 1-aminocyclohexyl, α-(5-tetrazolyl)benzyl, α-sulfaminobenzyl, α-sulfamino-3-thienyl, α-(N-methylsulfamino)benzyl, D(-)-α-guanidino-2-thienyl, D(-)-α-guanidinobenzyl, α-guanylureidobenzyl, α-hydroxybenzyl, α-azidobenzyl, α-fluorobenzyl, 4-(5-methoxy-1,3-oxadiazolyl)aminomethyl, 4-(5-methoxy-1,3-oxadiazolyl)-hydroxymethyl, 4-(5-methoxy-1,3-oxadiazolyl)-carboxymethyl, 4-(5-methoxy-1,3-sulfadiazolyl)-aminomethyl, 4-(5-methoxy-1,3-sulfadiazolyl)-hydroxymethyl, 4-(5-methoxy-1,3-sulfadiazolyl)-carboxymethyl, 2-(5-chlorothienyl)-aminomethyl, 2-(5-chlorothienyl)hydroxymethyl, 2-(5-chlorothienyl)-carboxymethyl, 3-(1,2-thiazolyl)aminomethyl, 3-(1,2-thiazolyl)hydroxymethyl, 3-(1,2-thiazolyl)-carboxymethyl, 2-(1,4-thiazolyl)aminomethyl, 2-(1,4-thiazolyl)-hydroxymethyl, 2-(1,4-thiazolyl)-carboxymethyl, 2-benzothienylaminomethyl, 2-benzothienylhydroxymethyl, 2-benzothienylcarboxymethyl, 2-azidooctyl-3-phenyl-3-azidomethyl, α-sulfobenzyl, and α-phosphonobenzyl.

Alternatively, the group ##STR7## can be an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl or aryl sulfonamido group such as phenylsulfonamido, ethylsulfonamido, benzylsulfonamido, 2,5-dimethylsulfonamido, 4-chlorophenylsulfonamido, 4-methoxyphenylsulfonamido, and the like.

The acyl substituents of the general formula

    R.sub.11 R.sub.10 CHCO

wherein R₁₀ and R₁₁ are as defined below represent a preferred group of substituents for R'. R₁₀ represents hydrogen, halo, amino, guanidino, phosphono, hydroxy, tetrazolyl, carboxy, sulfo or sulfamino. R₁₁ represents phenyl, substituted phenyl, a monocyclic heterocyclic 5- or 6-membered ring containing one or more oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms in the ring, substituted heterocycles, phenylthio, heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclc thio groups; or cyano. The substituents can be halo, carboxymethyl, guanidino, guanidinomethyl, carboxamidomethyl, aminomethyl, nitro, methoxy or methyl. Examples of these preferred substituents are phenacetyl, 3-bromophenylacetyl, p-aminomethylphenylacetyl, 4-carboxymethylphenylacetyl, 4-carboxamidomethylphenylacetyl, 2-furylacetyl, 5-nitrofurylacetyl, 3-furylacetyl, 2-thienylacetyl, 5-chlorothienylacetyl, 5-methoxythienylacetyl, α-guanidino-2-thienylacetyl, 3-thienylacetyl, 4-methylthienylacetyl, 3-isothiazolylacetyl, 4-methoxyisothiazolylacetyl, 4-isothiazolylacetyl, 3-methylisothiazolylacetyl, 5-isothiazolylacetyl, 3-chloroisothiazolylacetyl, 3-methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazolylacetyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl-4-acetyl, 3-methyl-1,2,5-thiadiazolyl-4-acetyl, 3-chloro-1,2,5-thiadiazolyl-4-acetyl, 3-methoxy-1,2,5-thiadiazolyl-4-acetyl, phenylthioacetyl, 4-pyridylthioacetyl, cyanoacetyl, tetrazolylacetyl, α-fluorophenylacetyl, D-phenylglycyl, 3-hydroxy-D-phenylglycyl, 2 -thienylglycyl, 3-thienylglycyl, phenylmalonyl, 3-chlorophenylmalonyl, 2-thienylmalonyl-1,3-thienylmalonyl, α-phosphonophenylacetyl, α-sulfaminophenylacetyl, α-hydroxyphenylacetyl, α-tetrazolylphenylacetyl and α-sulfophenylacetyl.

Preferably, R' is:

(1) hydrogen;

(2) ##STR8## where R² represents: (a) thienyl;

(b) phenyl; or

(c) mono- and disubstituted phenyl and thienyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, nitro, loweralkyl, and loweralkoxy; or

(d) methyl or substituted methyl such as NCCH₂ -- or CH₃ OCH₂ --; and

n is 0 or 1

(3) ##STR9## where X₁ is oxygen or sulfur; or

(4) ##STR10##

Even more preferably, R' is hydrogen or R"--C--O, R" being selected from the group consisting of:

(1) benzyl;

(2) 2-thienylmethyl;

(3) phenylthiomethyl;

(4) phenoxymethyl;

(5) NCCH₂ SCH₂ ;

(6) phenylaminomethyl ##STR11## or

(7) phenylazidomethyl ##STR12##

The substituent A in formula I above can be hydrogen; halo; unsubstituted or substituted hydroxy, mercapto; acyloxy especially alkanoyloxy or arylcarbonyloxy such as acetoxy, benzyloxy and benzoyloxy; acylthio; a quaternary ammonium group, for example, ##STR13## where E represents loweralkyl, ary or aralkyl, azido; or an amino group.

Thus, CH₂ A can be a halomethyl such as chloromethyl, bromomethyl or fluoromethyl.

When CH₂ A is a substituted hydroxy or substituted mercapto group, it can be shown by the formula

    --CH.sub.2 ZR.sub.5

where Z is oxygen or sulfur, and R₅ is an acyl group; a straight chain or branched chain loweralkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; an aryl group; an aralkyl group; or a heterocyclic group such as heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl e.g., 1,3-dioxacyclohex-4-yl, piperidino, morpholino, oxacyclopropyl, pyrrolidino, imidazolidino, pyrazolidino, and piperazino; or heterocycloalkenyl such as pyrrolino, 2-imidazolino, 3-pyrazolino or isoindolino. These groups can be unsubstituted or can be substituted by radicals such as alkyl, alkoxy, halo, cyano, carboxy, carbamoyl, azido,, sulfo, amino,, substituted amino, haloalkyl, carboxyalkyl, carbamoylalkyl, N-substituted carbamoylalkyl, guanidino, N-substituted guanidino, guanidoalkyl, sulfamyl, substituted sulfamyl, and the like. Representative of the groups are methoxymethyl, n-propoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, acetoxymethyl, propionyloxymethyl, benzoyloxymethyl, (p-chlorobenzoyl)oxymethyl, (p methylbenzoyl)oxymethyl, pivaloyloxymethyl, (1-adamantyl)-carboxymethyl, butanoyloxymethyl, carbamoyloxymethyl, (N-methylcarbamoyl)oxymethyl, (N-ethylcarbamoyl)-oxymetnyl, [N-(2-chloroethyl)carbamoyl]oxymethyl, (N-phenylcarbamoyl)oxymethyl, (N-p-sulfophenylcarbamoyl)oxymethyl, p-carboxymethylphenylcarbamoyloxymethyl, methoxycarbonyloxymethyl, isobutanoyloxymethyl, cyclobutylcarbonyloxymethyl, carbamoylthiomethyl, (ethoxythiocarbonyl)thiomethyl, (n-propoxythiocarbonyl)thiomethyl, (cyclopentanoxythiocarbonyl)thiomethyl, methylthiomethyl, N,N-diethylthiocarbamoylthiomethyl, N-methylpiperazinium-1-thiocarbonylthiomethyl, N,N-dimethylpiperazinium-1-thiocarbonylthiomethyl, 2-furoylthiomethyl, isothiouroniummethyl, (5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thiomethyl, p-tolylsulfonylthiomethyl, mesyloxymethyl, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrazolyl-5-thiomethyl, tosyloxymethyl, sulfamoyloxymethyl, 1-naphthoyloxymethyl, 2-furylacetoxymethyl, cinnamoyloxymethyl, p-hydroxycinnamoyloxymethyl, p-sulfocinnamoyloxymethyl and 1R:2S-epoxypropylphosphonyloxymethyl.

Alternatively,, when CH₂ A is hydroxymethyl, the cephalosporin can also exist as the lactone which is formed by internal esterification with the adjacent carboxy group.

The substituent CH₂ A can also be a group of the general formula

    --CH.sub.2 Y.sub.1

wherein Y₁ represents amino or substituted amino including nitrogen heterocycles and substituted heterocyclic groups as described for R₅. Y₁ may also be nitrogen which is part of the heterocyclic system as shown below. ##STR14## Examples of such groups that might be mentioned are aminomethyl, acetamidomethyl, carbamoylaminomethyl, N,N-dimethylaminomethyl, N-(2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl, 5-cyano-triazol-1-yl-methyl, 4-methoxycarbonyltriazol-1-yl-methyl.

When A is amino the cephalosporin compound can also exist as the lactam formed by loss of water with the adjacent carboxy group.

Representative of the quaternary ammonium groups representing A that might be mentioned are pyridinium, 3-methylpyridinium, 4-methylpyridinium, 3-chloropyridinium, 3-bromopyridinium, 3-iodopyrinium, 4-carbamoylpyridinium, 4-(N-hydroxymethylcarbamoyl)pyridinium, 4-(N-carbomethoxycarbamoyl)pyridinium, 4-(N-cyanocarbamoyl)pyridinium, 4-carboxymethylpyridinium, 4-hydroxymethylpyridinium, 4-trifluoromethyl-pyridinium, quinolinium, picolinium and lutidinium.

The preferred groups representing A are hydrogen, halo, azido, cyano, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, heterocycleoxy, mercapto, alkylthio, arylthio, aralkylthio, heterocyclethio, amino, alkylamino, alkanoylamino, hydroxyphenyl, acylthio, acyloxy, isothiouronium, sulfamoyloxy, quaternary ammonium, a heterocyclic tertiary amine, alkylsulfonyloxy and (cis-1,2-epoxypropyl)phosphono. The heterocycles can be a 5- or 6-membered hetero ring containing one or more nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms. The acyl group can be a loweralkanoyl group of 2-6 carbon atoms, carbamoyl, or thiocarbamoyl and N-alkyl or N,N-dialkyl derivatives thereof. The alkyl group of the foregoing substituents contains 1-6 carbon atoms and may be further substituted by radicals such as alkoxy, halo, amino, cyano, carboxy, sulfo, and the like.

More preferably, A is

(1) alkanoyloxy;

(2) carbamoyl ##STR15## (3) heterocyclethio; or

(4) hydrogen

The substituent R₁ in formula (I) above can be hydrogen, hydroxy, mercapto or substituted hydroxy and mercapto groups; a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group; cyano, or a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl containing substituent bonded by said carbonyl or thiocarbonyl radical; a nitrogen bonded group; halo; or phosphono or a substituted phosphono group.

The oxy or thio substituent represented by R₁ in formula (I) can be hydroxy or mercapto or a substituted hydroxy or mercapto group such as --XR'₁ wherein X is oxygen or sulfur and R'₁ is a hydrocarbyl group, preferably a straight or branched loweralkyl group of 1-6 carbon atoms, a straight or branched chain loweralkenyl or loweralkynyl group of 3-6 carbon atoms, a monocyclic aryl group such as phenyl, furyl, pyrryl and pyridyl, or an aralkyl group such as benzyl. These alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or aralkyl groups can be substituted with groups such as hydroxy, halo, nitro, amino, carboxy, thio, and the like. Other specific substituents represented by R₁ that might be mentioned are groups of the formula --OCN, --SCN, --ONR₃ R₄, --SNR₃ R₄, --OAc, --SAc, --SO₃ H, --SO₃ R₂, --SO₂ NH₂, OCD₃, --SO₂ R₂, --SO₂ NR₃ R₄, --OCOOR₂, --SOR₂, --OCOSR₂, --OCONR₃ R₄, and the like wherein Ac represents an acyl group such as a loweralkanoyl, R₃ and R₄ represent hydrogen, loweralkyl, acyl and loweralkoxy, and R₂ represents loweralkyl, haloloweralkyl, aryl, aralkyl and substituted derivatives of such groups.

When R₁ is hydrocarbyl it can be straight or branched loweralkyl, straight or branched lower-alkenyl, loweralkynyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, a monocyclic aryl group, or a monocyclic heterocyclic group which can also be substituted with one or more groups such as halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, nitro, sulfonyl, sulfamoyl, acyloxy, carbamoyloxy, carboxy, carboxamido and N-substituted carboxamido. Representative examples of such groups are C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl; C₂₋₆ alkenyl especially allyl, α-butenyl; C₂₋₆ alkynyl such as ethynyl and methylethynyl: loweraralkyl such as benzyl, p-methoxybenzyl, o-chlorphenethyl; phenyl, p-aminophenyl; cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl and 4-hydroxycyclohexyl;

R₁ in formula (I) above may also represent cyano or a group of the general formula ##STR16## wherein X' is oxygen or sulfur, and R" is hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, mercapto, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkoxy such as benzyloxy, alkoxy or aryloxy such as phenoxy, pyrroloxy, furyloxy, and thienyloxy, alkylthio or arylthio. Examples of these substituents are --COOH, --CSSH, --COR₂, --COOR₂, --COSR₂, --CSSR₂, --CONH₂, --CSNH₂, --CSR₂, --CONHR₂, --CSNH, --CONR₃ R₄ and --CSNR₃ R₄ wherein R₂ represents a straight or branched chain alkyl group of 1-6 carbon atoms and R₃ and R₄ represent hydrogen or R₂ ;

Furthermore, R₁ in formula (I) above represents a nitrogen bonded group such as amino and substituted amino groups, nitro, azido, nitroso, isocyanato, isothiocyanato and hydroxyamino. Specific examples of nitrogen bonded groups that might be mentioned are --NH₂, --NHR₂, --NHC(O)_(n) R₂, --NHC(S)_(n) R₂, ##STR17## --NNR₂, --NR₃ OH, --NHCNHNH₂, --NHCNHNR₂ R₃, --NO₂, --NO, --NCO, N₃ and --NCS, wherein R₂ represents a straight or branched chain loweralkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R₃ represents R₂ or hydrogen, and n represents the integer 1 or 2.

Finally, the substituent R₁ in formula (I) represents phosphono or a metal or ammonium salt thereof, or a substituted phosphono group of the formula: ##STR18## where Y' and Z' are the same or different and represent ##STR19## where R₂ represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical, R₃ and R₄ represent hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, alkoxy or an acyl radical, and X' represents oxygen or sulfur.

Preferably, R₁ is

(1) hydrogen;

(2) alkoxy;

(3) alkylthio; or

(4) loweralkyl.

Even more preferably, R₁ is

(1) hydrogen;

(2) methoxy;

(3) methylthio; or

(4) methyl.

B of Formula (I) above represents hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl which can be loweralkyl, loweralkenyl alkyl, alkanoyl, alkanoylalkyl, alkanoyloxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, loweralkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, and cycloalkyl, a heterocyclic group, such as heterocyclic alkyl or heterocyclic alkenyl which can also be substituted with one or more groups such as halo (Cl, F, Br, etc.) hydroxy, alkoxy, mercapto, amino, substituted amino, nitro, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, sufamoyl, alkanoyloxy, carbamoyloxy, carboxy, alkanoyl carboxamido and N-substituted carboxamido. Preferably, B is aralkyl, aryl, straight or branched alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkanoyl loweralkyl or alkanoyloxy loweralkyl. Representative examples of such groups are C₁₋₆ alkyl especially methyl, ethyl or t-butyl, allyl, 3-butenyl, methoxyethyl, benzyl, p-nitrobenzyl, p-sulfonylbenzyl, m-fluorobenzyl, o,p-dinitrobenzyl, o,p-dichlorobenzyl, p-methylbenzyl, m-methoxybenzyl, o-methylthiobenzyl, benzhydryl, --CH₂ OCH₂ OCOt--Bu, --CH₂ OCOt--Bu, and the like.

Preferably B is substituted or unsubstituted

(1) aralkyl;

(2) aryl;

(3) straight or branched loweralkyl;

(4) straight or branched loweralkenyl;

(5) cycloalkyl;

(6) alkanoyloxyloweralkyl;

(7) alkanoylloweralkyl;

(8) alkoxyloweralkyl; or

(9) haloalkyl.

Even more preferably, B is substituted or unsubstituted

(1) benzyl;

(2) benzhydryl;

(3) t-butyl;

(4) --CH₂ CH₂ CH═CH₂ ;

(5) allyl;

(6) alkanoyloxymethyl;

(7) alkanoylmethyl; or

(8) trichloroethyl;

(9) CH₂ COCH₂ OCOt--Bu; or

(10) phthalidyl.

The cephalosporin esters of structural formula (I) where B is other than hydrogen can be prepared from the acid (where B is H) according to conventional methods of esterification. For example,

(1) A cephalosporin of formula (I) is treated with a lower alkanol, a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl alcohol, or a substituted or unsubstituted benzhydrol (diphenylmethanol) in the presence of a catalyst such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and any one or a combination of the acid illustrated below in Table I

TABLE I Catalysts for Esterification

(1) Hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid

(2) Sulfuric acid

(3) C₁₋₃ alkanoic acid e.g. acetic acid

(4) Phosphoric acid

(5) Trifluoroacetic acid or anhydride

(6) Trichloroacetic acid

(7) p-Toluenesulfonic acid or other arylsulfonic acids

(8) Acidic ion-exchange resins with calcium sulfate

(9) Polymer-protected aluminium chloride, e.g., a complex between anhydrous aluminium chloride and polystyrene-divinyl benzene copolymer diphenylphosphitepyridine

(10) A Lewis acid such as boron trifluoride

(11) Aromatic sulfonylchloride-pyridine, e.g., p-toluenesulfonylchloride

(12) triphenylphosphine ditriflate

(13) dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)

(14) β-trichloromethyl-β-pro-piolactone

(15) N,N'-carbonyldimidazole

(16) triphenylphosphinediethylazodicarbonylate

(17) 6-chlorobenzensulfonyloxybenzotriazole

(18) 1-methyl-2-halopyridinium iodide-tertiary amine (e.g., triethylamine).

at from about 0° to about 150° C. with or without refluxing until the esterification is substantially complete. Optionally, a solvent may be used to facilitate the reaction. The common solvents used are benzene, toluene, xylene, sulfolane-xylene, diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, dioxane and the like;

(2) A cephalosporin of formula (I) is converted to an acid halide such as acid chloride or bromide via treatment with a halogenating agent such as thionyl chloride, phosphorus penta- or oxychloride followed by reaction with an appropriate alcohol; and

(3) Other methods such as alkylation of carboxylate salts (e.g., K⁺, Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Ag⁺, Cu⁺, tetralkylammonium-R₄ N⁺, and Hg⁺⁺ salts) of formula (I) with alkyl halides, for example, benzylchloride, benzyhydryl chloride; reaction with alkyl isoureas; treatment with diazomethane; alconolysis of anhydride derived from the cephalosporin acid of formula (I); transformation with alkyl t-butyl ethers; and the like may also be used. These methods are disclosed in Saul Patai, editor, The Chemistry of Functional Groups, Supplement B, The Chemistry of Acid Derivatives, pp. 441-436, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester-New York-Brisbane-Toronto, 1979, and are incorporated herein by reference.

This invention also relates to a method of treating inflammation in patients using a compound of Formula (I), particularly an especially preferred compound as the active constituent.

It has been found that the compounds of Formula (I) nave anti-inflammatory activity and are effective in the prevention and inhibition of edema and granuloma tissue formation as shown below in Taole II by the effective inhibition of the proteolytic function of human granulocyte elastase.

TABLE II Protocol--Enzyme Assays for the Inhibition of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Elastase Via Hydrolysis of N-t-Boc-alanyl-alanyl-prolylanaline-p nitroanilide Reagents:

0.05M TES (N-tris[hydroxymethyl]methyl-2-amino-ethanesulfonic acid) Buffer, pH 7.5.

0.2 mM N-t-Boc-alanyl-alanyl-Prolyl-Alanine-p-nitroanilide (Boc-AAPAN).

To prepare substrate, the solid (m.w. 550) was first dissolved in 10.0 ml DMSO. Buffer at pH 7.5 was then added to a final volume of 100 ml.

Crude extract of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) containing elastase activity.

Inhibitors (cephalosporins) to be tested dissolved in DMSO just before use.

Assay Procedure:

To 1.0 ml of 0.2 mM Boc-AAPAN in a cuvette, 0.01-0.1 ml of DMSO with or without inhibitor was added. After mixing, a measurement was taken at 410 mμ to detect any spontaneous hydrolysis due to presence of test compound. 0.05 Milliliters of PMN extract was then added and the ΔOD/min at 410 mμ was measured and recorded. Beckman model 35 spectrophotometer was used.

Results:

Results were reported as % inhibition produced by test compound within 2 minutes as represented by the % decrease in ΔOD/min as compared to a control without inhibitor.

Comments:

The elastase activity in the crude PMN extract may vary from one preparation to another. A control of each new batch is run, and the volume added in the assay procedure is adjusted according to activity.

    __________________________________________________________________________     RESULTS                                                                        The following table summarizes the inhibition of PMN by various                cephalosporin derivatives:                                                      ##STR20##                                                                                                     Conc. of                                                                       Compound                                                                             %                                        R'         R.sub.1                                                                            B         A      (μg/ml)                                                                           Inhibition                               __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR21## H   CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                             OCOCH.sub.3                                                                           50    56                                        ##STR22## OCH.sub.3                                                                          CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                             OCONH.sub.2                                                                           50    50                                        ##STR23## OCH.sub.3                                                                           ##STR24##                                                                               OCONH.sub.2                                                                           50    37                                       NCCH.sub.2 SCH.sub.2 CO                                                                   OCH.sub.3                                                                           ##STR25##                                                                                ##STR26##                                                                            50    41                                       NCCH.sub.2 SCH.sub.2 CO                                                                   OCH.sub.3                                                                           ##STR27##       50    81                                                                       25    78                                                                       10    53                                                                       5     41                                       __________________________________________________________________________

Accordingly, the compounds of Formula (I) can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in diseases such as emphysema, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, bronchial inflammation, infectious arthritis, rheumatic fever and the like.

For treatment of inflammation, fever or pain, the compounds of Formula (I) may be administered orally, topically, parenterally, by inhalation spray or rectally in dosage unit formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous injections, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal injection or infusion techniques. In addition to the treatment of warm-blooded animals such as mice, rats, horses, dogs, cats, etc., the compounds of the invention are effective in the treatment of humans.

The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparation. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, maize starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate may be employed.

Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or koalin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil.

Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The said aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl, p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin.

Oily suspension may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an antioxidant such as ascorbic acid.

Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oils, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean, lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan mono-oleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.

Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents. The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

The compounds of Formula (I) may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials are cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols.

For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions, etc., containing the anti-inflammatory agents are employed.

Dosage levels of the order to 0.2 mg to 140 mg per kilogram of body weight per day are useful in the treatment of the above-indicated conditions (10 mg to 7 gms. per patient per day). For example, inflammation is effectively treated and anti-pyretic and analgesic activity manifested by the administration from about 0.5 to 50 mg of the compound per kilogram of body weight per day (25 mg to 3.5 gms per patient per day). Advantageously, from about 2 mg to about 20 mg per kilogram of body weight per daily dosage produces highly effective results (50 mg to 1 gm per patient per day).

The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. For example, a formulation intended for the oral administration of humans may contain from 5 mg to 5 gm of active agent compounded with an appropriate and convenient amount of carrier material which may vary from about 5 to about 95 percent of the total composition. Dosage unit forms will generally contain between from about 25 mg to about 500 mg of active ingredient.

It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, route of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination and the severity of the particular disease undergoing therapy. 

What is claimed is:
 1. The method of treating inflammatory conditions caused by the action of an elastase comprising the administration to a mammalian species in need of said treatment as effective anti-inflammatory amount of a compound of formula: ##STR28## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein: R' is(1) ##STR29## wherein R" represents (a) straight or branched chain alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;(b) aryl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; (c) cycloalkyl having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms; (d) aralkyl; (e) ##STR30## (f) hydrogen; groups (a)-(f) above being unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, halo, cyano, carboxy, amino or substituted amino; A is(1) acyloxy; (2) acylthio; (3) ZR₅ whereZ represents oxygen or sulfur; and R₅ is(a) acyl; (b) straight, branched or cyclic loweralkyl; (c) straight, branched or cyclic loweralkenyl; (d) aryl; (e) aralkyl; (f) ##STR31## the above group being unsubstituted or substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, halo, cyano, carboxy, amino, substituted amino, haloalkyl, carboxyalkyl; or alternatively CH₂ A represents formyl; R₁ is(1) XR₁ ' where X represents oxygen or sulfur, R₁ ' is straight or branched loweralkyl; (2) hydrogen; (3) straight or branched or cyclic loweralkyl; or (4) monocyclic aryl; and B is(1) straight or branched loweralkyl; (2) straight or branched loweralkenyl; (3) cycloalkyl; (4) aryl; (5) aralkyl; (6) phthalidyl; (7) alkanoylalkyl; (8) alkanoyloxyalkyl; (9) alkanoyl; or (10) alkoxyalkyl; groups (1) to (10) above being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of:(a) halo; (b) hydroxy; (c) alkoxy; (d) mercapto; (e) amino; (f) substituted amino; (g) nitro; (h) alkanoyloxy; (i) carbamoyloxyl; (j) carboxy; (k) alkanoyl; (l) carboxamido; and (m) cyano.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein B is substituted or unsubstituted(1) aralkyl; (2) aryl; (3) straight or branched loweralkyl; (4) straight or branched loweralkenyl; (5) cycloalkyl; (6) alkanoyloxyloweralkyl; (7) alkanoylloweralkyl; (8) alkoxyloweralkyl; or (9) haloalkyl.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein B is substituted or unsubstituted(1) benzyl; (2) benzhyaryl; (3) t-butyl; (4) --CH₂ CH₂ CH═CH₂ ; (5) allyl; (6) alkanoyloxymethyl; (7) alkanoylmethyl; (8) trichloroethyl; (9) CH₂ COCH₂ OCOt--Bu; or (10) phthalidyl.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein A is:(1) alkoxy; (2) aryloxy; (3) aralkyloxy; (4) alkylthio; (5) arylthio; (6) aralkylthio; (7) ##STR32## (8) amino; (9) alkylamino; (10) alkanoylamino.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein A is:(1) alkanoyloxy; (2) carbamoyl ##STR33## or (3) ##STR34##
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein R₁ is:(1) hydrogen; (2) alkoxy; (3) alkylthio; or (4) loweralkyl.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein R₁ is:(1) hydrogen; (2) methoxy; (3) methylthio; or (4) methyl.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein:R₁ is hydrogen or methoxy; R' is NCCH₂ SCH₂ CO, ##STR35## CF₃ CO or HCO; A is ##STR36## and B is t-butyl, benzyl, benzhydryl, CH₂ CH₂ CH═CH₂, ##STR37##
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is ##STR38## 